Public Statements

Sherrod Brown Votes to Punish Ohio's Farmers and Small Businesses

Press Release

Today, Sherrod Brown faced a clear choice between supporting Democrats in Washington or small businesses and farmers in Ohio when he voted on two competing tax proposals in the United States Senate.

The Democrats' proposal, S.3412, called for imposing a massive tax hike on Ohio families and small businesses earning more than $250,000 and failed to provide any estate tax relief for farmers, dramatically lowering the threshold and increasing the top rate to 55 percent as of January 1, 2013. The Republican proposal, S.3401, would have extended current policy for individual income taxes for all Americans and maintained the current estate tax threshold for farmers.

Please see the below statement:

"I believe in lowering taxes for every family and small business in Ohio and permanently repealing the federal estate tax to protect Ohio's farmers. Increasing taxes in a challenging economy undermines recovery by creating more uncertainty and stifles job creation by punishing employers. When it comes to protecting Ohio's farmers, the American Farm Bureau Federation warns that a $1 million exemption is not high enough to protect a typical family farm from being hit hard by the estate tax.

Today, Sherrod Brown chose to support legislation that reflected ideological, not economic, concerns when he sided once again with his political party over Ohio's families, small businesses, and farmers. As a United States Senator, I will never forget who I work for -- the 11.5 million Ohioans who are my bosses." -- State Treasurer Josh Mandel, Republican Candidate For U.S. Senate